The Marine Litter Strategy – 10 key findings
Ocean plastic is everywhere and an urgent response is needed from the government and the marine industries. Marine Scotland is updating its Marine Strategy which was last published in 2014 and is out for consultation.
A comprehensive response to the marine litter strategy has been written by Scottish charity plasticatbay.org with some key findings for us all. They have done extensive research and work in the field of ocean plastics so are best placed to give an informed in-depth response which you can find here.
Some key findings to help reduce ocean plastic around Scotland and the UK.
Scotland is one of the most polluted coasts in the world. According to @PlasticBays report, research and data NW Scotland is one of the most polluted coasts in Europe (probably in the world).
We need a review of enforcement of the terrestrial littering and fly-tipping regulations.
We urgently need the development of a waste management system. Currently marine waste is shipped to Europe for processing. We need to improve recycling routes for end of life fishing gear here in the UK with a local processing fascility.
Implement producer responsibility across the UK. Scotland and the entire UK needs to align with the EU and implement the ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ on Fishing Gear, making manufacturers pay for collection and recycling.
Fishing and aquaculture are responsible for the majority of ocean pollution. Accdording to the data collected by @ plasticbay 50 to 90% of the ocean plastics removed by weight, is from fishing and aquaculture
We need policy to reduce sewage related pollution from industry and water companies
We need the development of an international plastic pellet certification scheme.
Coastal Rangers work and we need more around our coasts A major gap of the consultation is the omission of beach cleaning requirements. Coastal rangers have been implemented when funding has been there and they work at finding marine pollution before they become a problem. There is too much reliance on charities and the goodwill of the public.
Monitoring needs to be expanded nationwide and all year round. We noticed vast variations between the summer when most surveys used by Marine Scotland are made and the winter when ocean plastic pollution is at its worst lacks data.
Net cuttings and waste from aquaculture Marine Scotland still fails to recognise net cuttings and waste from aquaculture and shipping as a major source of ocean plastic pollution.
What can you do to end ocean plastic pollution?
Fundamentally we have a problem and we also have some clear solutions which need to be implemented asap across not only Scotland but across the UK, EU and world. This issue is one of the most important in the world right now and needs to be put firmly on the agenda.
Please speak to your local MP and ask them what they are doing to tackle this issue?